Stapling machine



Dec. 26, 1950 .1. R. MACKEY 2,535,306

- STAPLING MACHINE Filed Aug. '22,, 1949; 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 80 82 Joseph/RMackey I INVENTOR.

Dec. 26, 1950 J. R. MACKEY 2,535,306

STAPLING MACHINE Filed Aug. 22, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jasep h/i. Maakey INVENTOR.

Patented Dec. 26, 1950 STAPLING MACHINE Joseph R. Mackey, Longview, Tex., assignor to Glimmer-Graham Company, Longview, Tex., a

corporation of Texas Application August 22, 1949, Serial No. 111,602

'6 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in stapling machines.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved stapling machine for firmly securing a bottom in a basket without the use of cross braces.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved stapling machine having meansfor supporting a wooden basket and its bottom at an angle to a stapling head whereby staples may be driven angularly downward into the bottom and side wall of the basket so as to fasten the same together.

A particular object of the invention is to provide an improved stapling machine, of the character described, having an inclined support for receiving an assembled basket and automatically actuated means for coacting with the support to maintain the basket in a fixed relation to a stapling head whereby said basket may be quickly inserted and removed as well as rotated to permit the driving of a plurality of staples.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved basket stapling machine having novel means for rendering its power source inoperative whereby the intermittent operation of the machine is facilitated.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a stapling machine constructed in accordance with the invention,

Fig. 2 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view of the machine, showing its drive,

Fig. 3 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view of the drive,

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a portion of the machine and showing the relation of the stapling head to a basket being stapled,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the stapling head and basket, and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the releasable connection between the drive and the power source.

In the drawings, the numeral 10 designates the base or floor plate of a stapling machine which is preferably flat and rectangular and which has an upright standard or support ll welded or otherwise secured to its medial portion. The

2 support I I may be in the form of an H-beam and has a transverse plate 12 secured to and overlying its upper end. An upright reciprocal mandrel I3 is slidably mounted in a bearing collar or member l4 bolted or otherwise secured to the plate l2. The upper end of the mandrel l3 has a horizontal, radial arm l5 adjustably connected thereto in fixed positions. An inverted, substantially U-shaped bracket I5 is secured to a plate I! carried by the collar Hi and underlies the arm I5 for coacting therewith in supporting a stapling device or head 18.

It is noted that the stapling head l8 includes a body l9 pivotally attached by suitable brackets 20 to the outer lower end of the arm l6 and a spring-pressed plunger or ram 2| which is suitably secured to the outer end of the arm l5. As is most clearly shown in Fig. 4, the mandrel I3 is adapted to be reciprocated by a connecting rod or pitman 22 so as to reciprocate the plunger 2| of the stapling head. Suitable wire 23 is supplied to the head from a reel or spool 24 supported in a circular trough 25 at one side of the plate I 2. The wire 23 passes from the reel 24 over a pulley 26 mounted on the upper outer end of an elongate, angular arm 21 projecting uprightly from the plate 12.

For supporting an assembled wooden basket 28 having a flat. bottom 29 and preferably a straight side wall, an angular bracket 30 extends laterally from the upper portion of the support .I l in underlying relation to the stapling head.

Suitable plates 3! are welded or otherwise secured to the inner end of the bracket so for bolting to the support. The bracket includes a pair of spaced, parallel side members or plates 32 which have their outer end portions disposed in a horizontal plane below their inner end partions and connected by an angular bar or anvil 33. It is noted that the bar 33 extends transversely of the side members 32 and has its upright flange overlying the ends of said members and in substantial alinement with the stapling head. The upper flange of the bar is disposed at an obtuse angle to its upright flange so as to extend inwardly and upwardly at an oblique angle to the plunger of the stapling head. An opening or slot 34 is formed in the medial portion of this inclined flange for receiving a latch element or stop pin 35 which is pivoted to the outer end of an angular lever 36 and which is adapted to engage the lower peripheral margin of the basket 28 for maintaining the same upon the bracket 30. It is noted that the plate 12, bracket 16 and bracket 30, in effect, form a part of the support ll.

As is clearly shown in Fig. 5, the upper end of the lock pin is beveled at 3? complementary to the side wall of the basket; that is, at substantially a right angle to the inclined flange. Adjacent their inner ends, the side members 32 have upwardly and inwardly inclined edge portions for receiving a flat, transverse plate 38 upon which a block or bar 39 is mounted for receiving the inner portion of the lower margin of the basket. As shown by the numeral 48, the outer edge portion of the block 39 is bevelled to facilitate insertion and removal of the basket. An arcuate stop member or plate 4! is bolted to the face of the bearing collar 14 in overlying relation to the block so as to engage the side of the basket. Thus, the basket is supported upon the bar 33 and block 38 and is confined between the pin 35 and the stop member ll. Due to this arrangement, the basket may be maintained at an acute angle to the stapling head with a portion of the juncture between said basket and its bottom in substantial alinement with the plunger 2!. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, a staple 42 may be driven internally of the assembled basket at an angle through the bottom into the lower edge portion of said downwardly basket. Also, the angular relation of the basket permits turning or rotation of said basket for the insertion of additional staples without removing the basket from the support 36. It is noted that the upper portion of the inclined flange of the bar 33 serves as an anvil for bending long staples upwardly into engagement with the basket edge portion.

The intermediate portion of the lever 38 is pivotally supported between a pair of cars flit depending from the side members 32. A transverse stop bar 54 extends between the side members for limiting counter-clockwise pivoting of the lever, whereby disengagement of the pin 35 from its opening 34 is prevented. The lever has its i inner end pivotally connected by an adjustable link 55 to an arm 46 of a bell-crank M which is rotatably mounted in a suitable bracket t8 mounted on one side of the support The other arm E9 of the bell-crank has a roller 59] mounted on its free end for engagement by a cam 5| mounted on a drive shaft 52, as is most clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Upon rotation of the drive shaft 52 in a clockwise direction, the cam 5| engages the roller 5!] so as to swing the arm i9 and bell-crank 4'1 in a counter-clockwise direction. This movement is transmitted by the arm 46 and link to the lever 36 so as to swing the latter in the same direction and eject the pin 35 through the slot 34. It is noted that a coiled spring 69 connects the arm 39 to the support. ii so as to maintain the roller in the path of the cam. Also, this spring serves to automatically retract the lock pin.

A crank arm 53 connects the pitman 22 to the shaft 52, whereby the mandrel l3, its arm l5 and the plunger 2! of the stapling head is reciprocated upon rotation of said shaft. As shown by the numeral 5 the lower portion of the support is enlarged to accomodate the crank arm 53'. It

is noted that a staple 42 is driven upon each the base In adjacent its rear extremity. If desired, a brake 5! may be mounted on the extremity of the shaft beyond the block 56 for controlling the speed of rotation of said shaft. Power is supplied from a source (not shown) to the shaft by an endless belt 58 and a pulley 59 which is rotatably confined upon the intermediate portion of said shaft,

For connecting the pulley 59 to the shaft, a jaw clutch 69 is provided and has its collar 5! fastened to the hub of said pulley. A clutch element 63 is keyed upon the shaft between the cam 55 and the jaw clutch 5d and includes a flanged cylindrical body or housing having a large radial boss or projection for receiving a spring-pressed element or plunger 55 which is adapted to engage one of the jaws or teeth of said clutch. As shown by the numeral 66, the counter-clockwise faces of the teeth or jaws are bevelled to facilitate engagement of th plunger 6% therewith. A groove or recess is formed in the boss E i longitudinally of the shaft for receiving the plunger, a plate 68 overlying the groove for confining the plunger therein. The outer or forward end of the plunger is connected to the boss by a large coil d spring 69 so as to be constantly urged inwardly into engagement with the clutch jaws.

For automatically retracting the plunger so as to disengage the same from the clutch jaws, a latch It is provided and includes a body ii in the form of a horizontal channel mounted upon a suitable bracket '52 bolted or otherwise secured to the base. A spring-pressed element or plunger #3 is slidably mounted in the housing ii for engaging and retracting the plunger at, being urged constan tiy into engagement therewith by a coiled spring it connected to the inner end of the housing and a pin '65 carried by the outer end of the plunger it. 'The outer end portion of the plunger has a slot E6, of a width less than the width of the plunger '53, for receiving the inner end portion of the latter plunger which has its outer or forward surface bevelled upwardly and rearwardiy as shown by the numeral '5 The outer or forward wall of the plunger slot $3 is bevelled or inclined upwardly and rearwardly complementary to the bevel ii as shown by the numeral it. Thus, upon clockwise rotation of the clutch element 61-3, the bevelled end of the plunger E3 engages the bevelled surface 78 of the plunger 55 so as to slide the latter outwardly and retract the same from engagement with the jaw clutch 68.

Since the plunger '53 is of greater width than the plunger slot '56, it is impossible for the plunger 65 to move past said plunger '53. Therefore, rotation of the clutch element and the shaft 52 is halted upon engagement of the plungers. Upon retraction of the plunger t3, the plunger 65 is moved into engagement with the jaw clutch by the spring 39 so as to connect the clutch element and shaft to the pulley 59. For retracting the plunger a bell crank it is provided and includes an elongate pin or shaft having a foot pedal 8: mounted on one end thereof, while a slotted crank arm 82 is mounted on its opposite end. A pin 83 is carried by the plunger '13 for engagement with the arm 82, whereby depressing of the foot pedal 8! swings said arm in a clockwise direction so as to retract said plunger out of engagement with the plunger 55. It is noted that the shaft 86 extends longitudinally of the base, bein journaled in a suitable bearing 34, and that the foot pedal is disposed forwardly of said base. To prevent rotation of the plungers about their respective longitudinal axes, the same are preferably square or angular in section.

In operation, a basket 28 to be stapled is placed with its flat bottom 29 upon the bracket 30. Upon depressing the foot pedal 8|, the crank arm 82 is swung in a clockwise direction so as to slide the plunger 13 toward the right and retract the same from engagement with the slot 16 of the plunger 65. This permits engagement of the latter plung er with the clutch 60 so as to connect the clutch element 63 and the shaft 52 to the pulley 59 which is constantly rotated by the belt 58. Upon such rotation, the cam 5| strikes the roller 50 so as to pivot the bell crank 41 and lever 36 in a counterclockwise direction and eject the stop pin 35 through its slot 34. The basket and its bottom is thus confined upon the bar 33 and block 39 between the stop pin 35 and stop member. Simultaneously with this operation, the mandrel l3, its arm l5 and the plunger 2| of the stapling head I8 is reciprocated due to the provision of the pitman 22 and crank arm 53, whereby a staple is driven downwardly through the bottom into the lower peripheral margin of the basket. After one complete revolution, the engagement of the plunger 13 with the slot 61 causes retraction of the plunger 65 from engagement with the clutch so as to halt rotation of the clutch element and the shaft. Also, the spring 49 urges the bell crank in a counter-clockwise direction so as to retract the lock pin. The basket is then turned or rotated about its axis to permit the driving of n another staple which is accomplished by depressing the foot pedal. Due to the provision of the bell crank 41 and the lever 36, the stop pin 35 projects through its opening 34 upon downward reciprocation of the plunger 2| so as to prevent displacement of the basket during stapling thereof. Manifestly, the bottom of the basket is securely fastened in place by the angular driving of the staples, whereby the use of cross braces is rendered unnecessary.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and various changes in the details of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A stapling machine including, an upright support, a stapling head, an angular bracket connecting the stapling head to the support, a

bracket mounted on said support, in spaced relation to the angular bracket for positioning an assembled basket and its flat bottom in angular relation to said stapling head, the spacing between the brackets being sufficient to permit insertion of the basket and its bottom therebetween and the driving of staples from within and angularly relative to said basket for attaching the bottom thereto, and means for actuating said head.

2. A stapling machine including, an upright support, a pair of brackets mounted on the support in spaced relation to each other, a stapling head carried by one of the brackets and projecting therefrom toward the other bracket, said other bracket being adapted to support a basket and its fiat bottom in angular relation to the stapling head, the spacing between said brackets being sufficient to permit insertion of the basket and its bottom therebetween and the driving of staples from within and angularly relative to said basket for attaching the bottom thereto, and means for actuating said head.

3. A basket stapling machine including, a base, an upright support mounted on the base, a stapling head carried by the support, said support having a bracket for positioning a basket and its flat bottom in angular relation to the stapling head, a retractable element for engaging and maintaining the basket in a fixed position, whereby staples may be driven from within and angularly to said basket to attach its bottom thereto, and drive means for actuating said stapling head and having means for ejecting the retractable element.

4. A basket stapling machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein the bracket includes an anvil in substantial alinement with the stapling head for coacting therewith.

5. A basket stapling machine as set forth in claim 3 including, a source of power, clutch means for connecting the drive means to the power source, and means for actuating the clutch to permit intermittent operation of the drive means.

6. A basket stapling machine as set forth in claim 5 wherein the clutch actuating means includes an element carried by the drive means for engagement and rotation with the clutch means, and latch means engageable with the element for disengaging the same from said clutch means and halting rotation of said drive means.

JOSEPH R. MACKEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,186,285 Craig June 6, 1916 1,254,395 Craig Jan. 22, 1918 

